Minnesota Vikings Running Back Adrian Peterson needs 400 yards in the next three games to become the 7th running back to rush for over 2,000 yards.
However, Peterson has his eyes set on another number, 2,105 to be exact. And in order to break Eric Dickerson’s for most rushing yards in a 16 game season he will need to gain at least 506 more yards.
Peterson told Peter King of Sports Illustrated after Sunday’s 21-14 win over the Chicago Bears that he is indeed targeting Dickerson’s record.
Next Sunday Peterson will get to add to his rushing yards for the year against Dickerson’s former team, the Rams.
Eric Dickerson became the second NFL running back to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season 1984 when he broke the record, previously held by O.J. Simpson, rushing for 2,105 rushing yards. That record has yet to be broken.
However, O.J. Simpson still has the distinction of being the only running back to rush for over 2,000 yards in a 14 game season when he rushed for 2,003 yards in 1973 while Dickerson broke the record during a 16 game season.
The complete list of running backs that have rushed for over 2,000 rushing yards:
1973 – O.J. Simpson – 2,003 yards * (14-Game Season)
1984 – Eric Dickerson – 2,105 yards
1997 – Barry Sanders – 2,053 yards
1998 – Terrell Davis – 2,008 yards
2003 – Jamal Lewis – 2,066 yards
2009 – Chris Johnson – 2,006 yards
